where everyone is comfortable with each other. Members recog- nize and respect the work experience abroad, everyone speaks the same language and shares the same culture. This results in a more successful and lasting association that will benefit future generations.” Ramon Guanzon was also born in the Philippines. He was


30 when he came to Canada in January 2004, landing on a day when the thermometer had plummeted to -20 C — 50 degrees colder than the weather he had leſt behind in his birth country. In the Philippines he was an accountant at PwC. Aſter two years in Mississauga, Ont., working for the firm, he became a landed immigrant, then passed the uniform evaluation two years later. He was recruited to AFCA by a friend in his community, applied for membership and “the rest is history,” he says. Today, Guanzon, who lives in Cambridge, Ont., and owns a consulting business, is president of the association, which is celebrating its 39th year. What started in the ’70s with six local Filipino accountants — coincidentally, most of them worked at the Can- ada Revenue Agency — who wanted to build a sense of commu- nity and belonging when they found themselves in Ontario, has blossomed to 1,000-plus members. “It’s crazy how many Filipino accountants are migrating to Canada every year,” he says, adding that one of AFCA’s main jobs is to help these people integrate into the profession once they land. “People who are foreign-trained come here and don’t know what to do. We offer mentorship, provide help getting their CPA designation and bring them into the mainstream.” During his presidency, Guanzon plans to make AFCA the go-to organization where folks can get help finding work, information about life in this country and professional development courses. “I’m also working to increase growth and membership by expanding our recruitment efforts,” he says. Plus, he wants to be more visible and recognizable within the community (hosting family picnics, dinner and dancing events and sports tournaments), on social media and at conferences. “It’s like a full-time job but it’s what we do to help our community and give back. We want AFCA to be the premier Filipino accounting organization in Canada.” To get there, the association helped start a branch in BC, and it’s even trying to expand in Nunavut and Manitoba, where, Guanzon says, large numbers of Filipino accountants are gravitating. “It’s about giving members tools they need to succeed as CPAs, helping them find jobs and giving them an outlet and opportunity to give back to the community, and it’s about enjoying life here in Canada.” When the Sri Lankan Accountants Association of Canada


(SAAC) started 14 years ago, it had a similar mandate. Its objec- tive was to bring all of the accountants in the Sri Lankan com- munity in the Greater Toronto Area under one umbrella. “Networking and providing quality seminars through collabora- tive learning was the primary objective of the SAAC at the time of inauguration,” says Vina Devadas, an accountant and lawyer at Devadas Law Professional Corp. in Toronto, a member of SAAC for 11 years and its immediate past president. Back then,


48 | CPA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2017


five accountants who had completed their exams and earned their CGA designation at the same time formed a bond while studying. “They felt that they were not going to see each other as oſten and they wanted to continuously learn the changes in the profession. That was when the idea of forming an association was put on the table and the SAAC was born.” When he came to Canada in 2006, Devadas says he wanted to “make connections with accountants from back home. Friends told me about the association.” The association oſten posts job listings that can only be accessed by members. “It’s a great way to find targeted jobs in areas of interest.” Today, with more than 250 members, as well as 20-plus students, members say enhancing their net- works, taking charge of their careers and broadening their knowledge base are the key reasons the group is so necessary


Ethnically diverse accounting associations act as a “home away from home. Everyone speaks the same language and shares the same culture”


to the community of Sri Lankan accountants. “Members share ideas, ask for advice, volunteer to be speakers and become com- mittee members. They may find a mentor to help in their profes- sional needs or they may be in a position to mentor someone else. Giving back can be the greatest reward,” Devadas says. With the reputation the association has garnered over the years, there are many organizations — most notably RBC and CPA Ontario — that have stepped up to financially support the group’s initia- tives. “It allows us to bring in high-quality speakers who can present on technical subjects and soſt skills at an affordable cost to members. These seminars help members blend themselves with mainstream Canadians and find more opportunities for jobs and businesses.” A key piece for Devadas is showcasing these opportunities to students of Sri Lankan descent and attracting them to the accounting profession. “SAAC spends time encouraging younger generations to embark on the path to getting their accounting designations.” A group, association, network or organization such as SAAC


or AFCA would have been beneficial for Whitby, Ont.-based Lennox Parkins when he was a newcomer to Canada finding his way in the profession. An accountant from Jamaica who emi- grated to Canada in 2002 via the US, Parkins says there are


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